Longleat guide up for national award

A safari guide at Longleat Safari & Adventure Park has been nominated for a prestigious national travel award.

Wayne Grimston, who escorts visitors on VIP Safari Tours at the award-winning Wiltshire attraction, is among 10 finalists for the title of Tourism Superstar 2013.

The award, run by national tourist board, VisitEngland, aims to find the country’s unsung holiday hero – someone who makes breaks in England extra special and goes above and beyond the call of duty to offer visitors a priceless experience.

This year the award, which was launched in 2012, focuses on employees at English visitor attractions.

Nominations were received from throughout the country and the team of judges announced their shortlist of 10 – including Wayne, who is the only representative from the Wessex region.

“It’s a real honour to have been shortlisted for the award and now I am just hoping as many people as possible will vote for me,” said Wayne.

“I’ve been able to fulfil lifelong ambitions with various organisations and individuals on the VIP Tours including the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ where it’s vitally important I provide a day out for families which they can cherish and remember forever.

“I love my job because it gives me the incredible opportunity to talk passionately about some amazing animals and their personalities to all sorts of different people.

“I’m hoping the public will vote for me because there aren’t’ that many people that have seen the inside of a lion's mouth so many times… and survived!” he added.

For videos of all the nominees, and voting, go to www.mirror.co.uk/tourismsuperstar